Steve Pemberton says filming 'Benidorm' has changed his opinion of the Spanish resort.
The 44-year-old actor - who plays Mick Garvey in the ITV1 comedy, which is set primarily in the all-inclusive Solona hotel complex - enjoys the relaxed nature of filming the programme in the coastal town, but he used to think it was full of "leery Brits abroad".
He said: "It's a tremendous show to film - everyone has a ball and the people are so nice. What could be better than turning up to work and sitting by a pool in the sunshine?
"People have great affection for Benidorm. It's not everyone's idea of a good time, and it would never have been mine before I went.
"There's a season when all the stag and hen parties go and that can be a little bit threatening but we film off-season and I've never seen a fight or leery 'Brits abroad' antics.
"There's no pretension about Benidorm. No one cares what they look like, they just let it all hang out and have a good time.
"I'm not a big party animal but I enjoy lying on a sun lounger by a pool like Mick but with a book, not a beer."
As well as starring in 'Benidorm', Steve started writing episodes for the fifth series - which concluded last Friday (06.04.12) - because it tied in well with his new exercise regime, which helped him shed two stone last year.
He added to the Daily Mirror newspaper: "I have regular check-ups. I lost two stone last year by dieting and taking up jogging.
"I was writing episodes of Benidorm and was finally able to manage my time to fit in the exercise."
